EDUARDO helped fire Arsenal into the FA Cup quarter-finals and a showdown against Hull with a stunning samba-style volley hailed by Arsene Wenger as the best goal he has seen this season.

Eduardo, who is still making his way back after breaking his leg in an horrific incident at Birmingham 13 months ago and was rewarded with the captain’s armband yesterday, scored in the 52nd minute of a 3-0 win over Burnley.

The effort was sublimely finished with the outside of his left heel and Wenger said: “I haven’t seen a better goal this season.

“For me it is a little bit of a beach goal. It looked like he meant it; he sliced the ball. He is a surprise finisher and a very intelligent player.

“He has a short back-lift and makes quick decisions on what to do. It is instinct.”

Eduardo, 26, has scored three goals in two FA Cup games and Wenger said even he had been surprised at how well the striker has returned. “I did not expect that,” said Wenger. “You understand now why he kissed the fitness coach; one, because he worked very, very hard with him; two, because he doesn’t have to see him any more because he suffered so much with him.

“The captaincy? It is a tribute to his personality and to how well he has behaved in the last nine months.

“He has never complained and I think that is a big example in our world.”

Waiting for Arsenal if they beat Hull in their delayed quarter-final will be Chelsea, 2-0 winners against Coventry on Saturday.

Phil Neville urged Everton to “step up and be men” after their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough earned a semi-final showdown against Manchester United at Wembley next month.

Everton reached the last four for the 24th time in their history after goals from Marouane Fellaini and substitute Louis Saha.

Neville’s former club, Manchester United, now stand in the way of a first appearance in the final since Everton won the trophy in 1995.

“It’s great to be in the semi-final but now we are there, we want to go on and win the trophy,” said Neville.

“We’ve had to do it the hard way this season. So if anyone deserves to get to the final, it’s us.

“From the moment we drew Liverpool and beat them, our fans have been saying this is going to be our year. We want to bring silverware to this club because it has been too long since we won something.

“United were awesome when they beat Fulham 4-0, so it won’t be easy. Now is the time to step up and be men.”

Middlesbrough led through David Wheater but now face a battle for Premier League survival.

“We got ourselves in a position where we were 45 minutes from the semi-final,” said boss Gareth Southgate.

“Everyone’s emotions were running wild, but the way we gave away that lead tells us just why we are where we are in the Premier League table.”